Auburn's quest for a second straight SEC championship will not be easy. The Tigers' schedule is filled with eight bowl teams from a year ago, several top-10 worthy programs and a road schedule peppered with potential land mines. AL.com takes a look at the six toughest games on the schedule as the Tigers try to reach the College Football Playoff in 2014.

Why Auburn fans should be concerned: Hugh Freeze may not admit it, but this team is the best he has had in Oxford and the Rebels have to be thinking SEC title with a favorable schedule (the Rebels get Alabama and Auburn at home, and draw Tennessee and Vanderbilt from the SEC East), a plethora of returning starters and a roster filled with championship-quality depth.

Ole Miss nearly stormed back at Auburn a year ago before falling 30-22. The Rebels caught a few tough breaks last season, but proved capable of contending with victories against Texas and LSU. The offense returns six starters but do so with the key pieces needed to maintain leadership and a consistent scoring threat with Bo Wallace back at quarterback and most of the defense, including defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, returning to the field. Freeze's hurry-up offense will score points in 2014, and if Auburn is unable to slow Ole Miss down at home early, the Tigers may not catch up.

Why Auburn fans should be confident: Ole Miss' high-flying offense managed only 22 points last season against the Tigers' defense, which didn't quite hit its stride until later in the schedule. Wallace is dangerous but he's also inconsistent, and when he's flustered games can fall apart quickly for the Rebels. He didn't look the part of an all-SEC quarterback in the Egg Bowl (a 17-10 overtime loss to Mississippi State) and struggled in the first half last season against Auburn.

Auburn's defense should be much better at this point in the season than it was in 2013. The Tigers should also be much more familiar with Freeze's hurry-up offense, which is comparable to the offensive attack it faces every day in practice at Auburn. The road atmosphere will be tough to handle, but that didn't bother Auburn last season at Texas A&M. The early road games at Kansas State and MSU will help, too, before traveling to Oxford on Nov. 1.